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Member of the Division of Humanities
Edward Phillips, Chair, Joseph Cummins, Monessa Cummins, Dennis Hughes, Gerald Lalonde
Because of their continuity and comparability, the classical and modern
worlds offer valuable perspectives on each other. Their continuity has long
been recognized; modern languages, institutions, values, and the forms and
symbols in which we frame ideas are derived from the beginnings of Western
civilization in Greece and Rome. But since our modern world differs in
important ways from its origins, the study of classics also supplies a perspective
for comparison that enforces rational, conscious examination of the
unconscious assumptions by which we speak, think, and act. Grinnell courses in
classics deliberately and explicitly invite students to apply their classical experience
to the facts and modes of understanding they have learned in history,
social sciences, philosophy, literature, and the arts as taught from more modern
points of view in other departments of the College.
All classics offerings are designed and taught with a view to the needs
of students from various disciplines and with various preprofessional
interests. Some of these needs are addressed directly in courses in classical thought
or New Testament Greek, but, in general, preparation for such professions as
law is best served by the rigorous and humane qualities that the study of
classics gives to a liberal education.
The department offers beginning, intermediate, and advanced courses in
both Greek and Latin, and a special course, Latin 225, which quickly brings
entering students with differing backgrounds to an appropriate reading ability
by working on their individual needs. The 300-level courses in Latin and
Greek introduce students to the pleasure derived from careful and intelligent
reading of a relatively small selection of the best literature. Reading competence also
is fostered in a voluntary activity that has become a tradition fondly
remembered by graduates: the weekly evening of sight-reading in faculty homes.
Majors take a minimum of 20 credits in reading courses, since the
department is convinced that all objectives of classical study--from linguistic
competence to familiarity with classical culture--are best approached through
intensive study of literary texts in their original languages. Majors who plan a career
in classical scholarship satisfy the need for more extensive reading or
more sharply focused professional preparation in independent study. Those
who incline toward the archaeological specialty, and those with more literary
or historical interests, are encouraged to take a semester in one of the
approved programs in Athens or Rome. Since careers in these areas will require
reading proficiency in French and German, interested students are advised to master
at least one of these languages during the undergraduate years.
A minimum of 32 credits beyond the 100 level. With permission, up to
8 of the 32 credits may be taken in related studies outside the
department. Required are Classics 495 and at least 20 credits in 300-level courses
or individual reading, or 16 credits in 300-level courses or individual
reading in one language and course 222 in the other. A major program in
classics normally involves reading in the original in both Greek and Latin, but
a student may elect to build a major program including independent
study and reading in either Greek or Latin alone, supplemented by
other departmental courses or related work in other literature, linguistics,
art, theatre, philosophy, or other disciplines.
To be considered for honors in classics, graduating seniors, in addition to meeting the
College's general requirements for honors, must show superior performance in
coursework in classics, combined with superior breadth or depth of curriculum.
Ancient History, Philosophy, Archaeology, and Classics (in Translation)
231 History of Ancient Philosophy (Fall) 4 credits+
See Philosophy 231.
242 Classical Mythology* (Spring) 4 credits+
Also listed as General Literary Studies 242. A systematic study of the
most important stories and figures of classical mythology, with emphasis on
the reading and interpretation of primary Greek and Roman literary sources
and on the contribution of feminist criticism, anthropology, religion,
and psychology to this study. Prerequisite: Humanities 101. PHILLIPS.
248 Greek Archaeology and Art* (Spring) 4 credits+
Also listed as Art 248. A study of major archaeological excavations and
artistic genres of ancient Greece, and their relationship to political and cultural
history; the exchange of artistic and archaeological influences with contemporary
cultures of Europe, Africa, and Asia. Prerequisites: none. M. CUMMINS.
250 Roman Archaeology and Art* (Spring) 4 credits+
Also listed as Art 250. A study of the major monuments and artifacts of ancient
Etruria and Rome; their relationship to the political and cultural history;
the Roman borrowing and adoption of Greek forms as well as original expression in art and
architecture. Roman artistic exchange with other cultures of Europe, Africa, and Asia.
Prerequisites: none. M. CUMMINS.
255 History of Ancient Greece* (Fall) 4 credits+
See History 255.
256 History of Rome* (Fall) 4 credits+
See History 256.
495 Senior Seminar (Spring) 4 credits
Devoted to major themes in Greek and Roman culture, the seminar
allows seniors to integrate their study of classics and related fields. Participants
will plan topics and present papers that serve as a basis for analysis and
discussion. Prerequisites: senior standing and permission of department. STAFF.
Greek
101 Elementary Greek (Fall) 5 credits
The fundamentals of ancient Greek inflection, grammar, syntax, and
literary style, based on simplified readings from Attic prose and poetry.
Prerequisites: none. HUGHES.
222 Intermediate Greek (Spring) 5 credits
Continuation of Greek 101. Review of forms and grammar. Introduction to
a range of Greek poetic and prose literature, with selected short readings
from Homer, lyric poetry, Herodotus, Sophocles, Euripides, Plato, and the
Christian Scriptures. Prerequisite: Greek 101 or permission of instructor.
HUGHES.
301 Homer* (Spring) 4 credits+
Reading of selected passages from the
Iliad, the Odyssey, or both epics; special readings in archaeological and critical background.
Prerequisites: Greek 222 and Humanities 101, or permission of instructor.
STAFF.
302 Plato* (Fall) 4 credits+
Readings from one or more of Plato's dialogues with attention to
language, literary features, and philosophy. Prerequisites: Greek 222 and Humanities 101, or permission of instructor. J. CUMMINS.
303 Greek Drama* (Spring) 4 credits+
Reading of two plays with study of literary form, the myths, and
relevant social, religious, and philosophical issues. Prerequisites: Greek 222
and Humanities 101, or permission of instructor. STAFF.
304 Greek Prose Writers* (Fall) 4 credits+
Reading and study of related works of one or more Greek prose
writers, excluding Plato. Possibly to include history (Herodotus,
Thucydides, Xenophon), philosophy (Aristotle), oratory (Andocides,
Lysias, Demosthenes), or epigraphy. Prerequisites: Greek 222 and Humanities 101, or permission of instructor. STAFF.
305 Greek Poetry* (Fall) 4 credits+
Readings in Greek poetry, excluding Homer and drama. Possibly to
include Archaic lyric and elegiac poets (e.g., Sappho, Archilochus, Solon), Pindar
and Bacchylides, or the Hellenistic poets (Apollonius, Theocritus,
Callimachus). Introduction to Greek metrics and literary dialects. Emphasis on close
reading and critical analysis of the texts. Prerequisites: Greek 222 and Humanities 101, or permission of instructor. HUGHES.
387 Individual Reading (Fall or Spring) 2 or 4 credits
Supervised readings designed to fit special needs of students--for
example, those who wish to develop facility in reading New Testament
Greek. Prerequisites: at least one reading course in Greek and permission
of instructor. STAFF.
Latin
103 Elementary Latin (Fall) 5 credits
The fundamentals of Latin forms and sentence structure, based on
sentences and connected reading from classical Latin literature. Prerequisites:
none. PHILLIPS.
222 Intermediate Latin (Spring) 5 credits
Continuation of Latin 103. Readings in medieval and classical Latin prose
and poetry, with review and composition as needed in order to attain a
reading knowledge of Latin. Prerequisite: Latin 103 or permission of instructor. PHILLIPS.
225 Reading Latin (Fall) 4 credits
An intermediate course that can function as a continuation of Latin 222 or as
a review class for students with substantial prior work in Latin at the
secondary or collegiate level. Review of fundamentals with an emphasis on reading
and interpreting a variety of texts. Prerequisite: Latin 222, or at
least two years of secondary-school Latin, or permission of instructor. STAFF.
318 Roman Satire* (Fall) 4 credits+
Readings in Lucretius, Horace, and Juvenal: the poetry of criticism and
wit. Roman originality, Epicurean and Stoic stances in this complex
and chameleonic genre, the interplay of moral voice and sense of humor,
relations between philosophy and satire, rhetoric and poetry. Prerequisites: Latin 222,
or 225, and Humanities 101; or permission of instructor. PHILLIPS.
323 Vergil* (Spring) 4 credits+
Readings in the Eclogues, the
Georgics, and the Aeneid; the development
of Vergilian poetic technique; the civilized and national epic as a new form
and its influence on Roman and later cultures; the pastoral tradition, influence
of Greek and Hellenistic literature. Prerequisites: Latin 222 or 225 and Humanities 101, or permission of instructor. PHILLIPS.
333 Roman Historians* (Fall) 4 credits+
Selected readings from Sallust, Bellum
Catilinae, Bellum Iugurthinum, and Livy,
Ab Urbe Condita; the interpretation of Rome's past by historians of
the era of transition from republic to empire. Prerequisites: Latin 222, or 225,
and Humanities 101; or permission of instructor.
M. CUMMINS.
334 Roman Lyric Poetry* (Spring) 4 credits+
The poetry of Catullus and the Odes of Horace. Critical analysis, the
Greek background and models, the art and philosophy of Horace as the
culmination of classical humanism. Prerequisites: Latin 222, or 225, and Humanities 101; or permission of instructor. HUGHES.
344 Roman Thought* (Fall) 4 credits+
The poetry of Lucretius and some of the essays of Cicero will be studied
for the ways in which they present Greek ideas to a Roman audience, on
the subjects of nature, religion, politics, and the goals of life. Prerequisites:
Latin 222, or 225, and Humanities 101; or permission of
instructor. J. CUMMINS.
387 Individual Reading (Fall or Spring) 2 or 4 credits
Supervised reading designed to fit special needs of students. Prerequisites:
at least one reading course in Latin and permission of instructor. STAFF.
*Not offered every year.
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